I decided to take Melody's advice and entered the room that was marked 'Cosplayer in Peril' about an hour after I left the other room. It was now well into the afternoon and the convention was about to reach the supreme madness that always follows an afternoon of fans being fans. The room was controlled chaos. A good dozen people were rushing around, all of them wearing jeans and bright neon orange shirts that had the words “Stage Hand” followed by the word “Volunteer” emblazoned upon the back.
The first thing I noticed though, or the first thing that came to my attention was the number of ice chests they had scattered around. I peered at the ice chest for several seconds before I was finally overcome by curiosity, there were four scattered about the area. Shrugging my shoulders I walked over to one and slowly I flipped the lid and there encrusted in ice I saw something that made me shiver.
Encrusted in ice, and I do me encrusted was a milk jug, the milk jug was about the average gallon size you find at the supermarket. Each gallon jug was filled to the brim with what appeared to be colored cake batter, there were four of them, each one a different color. The first one was pink, the second one was yellow, the third one was green, and the fourth and final one was mint green. That was the first ice chest.
The next ice chest held around eight okay, maybe ten aerosol cans of whipping cream. I guess those were for the pies, but Jesus that was a lot of cream. As a cheerleader, I knew you could get a pretty good make-shift pie from one can. But ten can's that was enough to cover a person from the very top of their head to the tiny tip of their toes.
The next two held nothing but bottles of water and canned sodas. And finally I came to the gunge tank, the gunge tank was the center of the show and set up at the center of the stage. The tank looked like one of those phone booths that Superman used to duck into to change from Clark Kent to Superman. On top there was clear, plastic reservoir that looked like it could hold around four gallons. A spout was located at the bottom of the reservoir, just below the spout there was a wooden, three legged stool.
“Wow.” I said blushing as I peered toward the tank.
“Amazing you can accomplish with two hundred dollars, a weekend pass to use your school's vocational center, and four friends who know their way around all manner of tools, from screwdrivers, to handsaws. Plus the internet.” A voice behind me said, “We've made our money back and then some from it. A bunch of the lumber was hawked though from the scrap piles behind Better Homes Building Supply, but with some sandpaper and plenty of elbow grease can't solve.”
I slowly turned my head. And much to my surprise there stood Melody Harbor, a few paces behind her stood two cosplayers, the first one was dressed in an orange and black jumpsuit. His longish blonde hair seemed kind of spiked up and he wore a headband on his head. His blue eyes seemed to almost shimmer like sapphires in the dim light of the room. And his smile, his smile struck me as a disarming smile that put me at ease.
Beside him I saw a girl that was roughly around the same height, she was a lot thinner than he was, I could not tell the color of eyes because she wore blind white contact lenses. And what struck me, was the fact that instead of wearing the normal outfit that I've often seen Hinata wear on the few episodes of Naruto that I've seen on Adult Swim and Toonami, I mean it was still Hinata, her hair was still black, still in the classic short bob style and still colorless, but the outfit took me back.
It seems this was the year for Bunny-Girls or Bunny-Girls were more popular than I thought because she too was wearing a bunny-girl cosplay, though she seemed shy, and totally embarrassed to be seen wearing something so skimpy. In fact when she saw me, she hid behind her boyfriend.
“So here we have our two volunteers. Remember we have to keep in character, so while on stage you'll address them as Naruto and Hinata.” Melody said smiling.
I nodded my head.
“So here's how its going to work, you're going to the host. Naruto here.” She said pointing toward the Naruto cosplayer, “Will try to do some silly stunts, okay there more like physical challenges, like.” Melody paused, “Sprinting from the stage to the doors at the back of the room and back in like two seconds flat. Stuff a normal anime ninja could do, but since this is not an anime, its real life, its pretty much impossible!” She said smiling.
I nodded my head.
“Each time Naruto fails a challenge, you get to smash a pie in our lovely Hinata face.” Melody grinned, “Be sure to have some two full cans of whipping cream, we have some pudding around here too, so you're going to make the pies too, kind of put a little sass into making them. You know teasing our Hinata, I would love to have some custard, but since we're in the United States, and not the United Kingdom, and Kroger wants way too much for a carton of custard, we'll have to settle for vanilla pudding. Just pour some vanilla pudding into a pie tin, coat the bottom, add a layer of whipping cream and top it with a cherry and then bunny hop over and smash the pie into Hinata face.”
“OMG Melody Sempai!” The Hinata cosplayer yelled as deep blush colored her face. “You said its just shaving cream, you never said anything about using vanilla pudding or whipping cream!” She yelled, her girlish voice echoed across the room.
“Sorry honey, but that show business.” Melody said.
“MELODY SEMPAI!” The cosplayer wailed. “It's bad enough I gotta wear this embarrassing costume, but now I gotta get pied too!” She said as she wiggled her body, causing the fluffy bunny tail at the bottom of her costume to wiggle around.
I felt a sudden wave of jealousy come flooding over me, sure I was the hostess, but it was clear that the two cosplayers were the true stars of the show and plus, this Hinata cosplayer had her boyfriend with her. My boyfriend was right now either bagging groceries or in the woods trying to shoot a squirrel to cook and clean. Country boys you either loved them or hated them.
“Sorry honey, but this is show business.” Melody said. “Anyway our lovely Hinata would be sitting in the gunge tank. After each pie, one of our stage hands will fill up the tank with the slime we have chilling in the ice chest. I salted the ice beforehand so the stuff is almost frozen. It's going to be like a slushie sitting above a lovely Hinata head.”
“MELODY SEMPIA!” The Cosplayer wailed as she started to bunny hop around the stage.
“Chill out Hinata.” The Naruto cosplayer said as he pulled her into a one arm hug. “I'm going to do my best! So you have nothing to worry about!”
“Really you need to chill Hinata.” Melody said, sighing. “After all, you volunteered for this.” She then turned around and gave Hinate a coy look. “Plus, I doubt your boyfriend will let anything happen to you.” She added
I braced myself for another outburst instead the Hinata cosplayer started to poke her fingers together a few seconds later she started to mutter something under her breath as she looked down on the ground.
“Anyway!” The Naruto cosplayer said smiling. “I'm famished, let's get something to eat Hinate before the game, I think there is a Udon shop around here. I'm in the mood for some noodles.” And with that the two left Melody and I alone.
“She's lucky you know.” I said smiling. “My boyfriend would never cosplay with me.”
“Same. I'm glad she found somebody, she is my best friend, we've known each other since we were babies. She never thought she'd find a boyfriend till this summer. I hope this little thing brings them closer together.” Melody said with a sigh.
“Part me wishes I was sitting in the gunge tank and getting pied though. I guess I crave being the center of attention too much.” I said before I could stop myself.
“Comes with being a cheerleader.” Melody said smiling. “And no, I'm not stalking you, I've seen you cheer before. I'm a cheerleader myself. And our school's often play with each other.” Melody said grinning. “I mean I guess our gunge tank is a little better than the one they used at your homecoming a few years ago.”
I blinked.
“I knew you from the moment I saw you. Ms. Jamie Sarah Potter, I never forget a face. Anyway, I would be more than happy to put you in our gunge tank if you wish and pull the cord on you. But we only have four gallons of slime and we need to save that for the show.” Melody said in a teasing tone of voice. “Plus we don't want to ruin your wonderful outfit now do we?”
A long sigh escaped my lips as I folded my arms across my chest and peered at Melody.
“Whatever girl.” I said, shaking my head.
“Ohayou-Gozaimasu! Kawaii-Con!” I called out into the microphone I was holding. “And welcome to the first Annual and we hope not the last 'Cosplayer in Peril!”. I said, smirking. “Today we have two of your favorite characters playing for the grand prize of fourteen thousand yen!” I added with a wink. Of course I had to say 'Yen' instead of 'Dollars' because we were doing a mock Japanese game show.
The crowd went wild and started to applaud.
“Now, put your hands together, because traveling all the way from Konohagakure! We have Naruto Uzumaki joining us today with his cute as a button girlfriend Hinate Hyuga!” I shouted as I peered pointed to the left side of the stage. A few moments later, the Naruto and Hinata cosplayer came out. Naruto was waving to the crowd. The Hinata cosplayer seemed content to hide behind Naruto's shoulder.
“So!” I said smiling as I bunny hopped toward the two. “You guys ready to play!” I asked as I peered toward the two. The Naruto cosplayer was smiling from ear to the other, the Hinata cosplayer was looking down at the ground.
'Totally!” The Naruto cosplayer said smirking as he peered toward the crowd. “I could use the money to pay off some of my bill at Ramen Ichiraku!” He said beaming.
The Hinate cosplayer refused to answer but only nodded her head.
“Cool!” I added as I peered at the two. “So if Hinate-chan would please follow me.” I said as I once more bunny hopped to the gunge tank that was located in the center of the stage. The Hinata cosplayer followed behind me, she nervously played with her hair as she walked. Once we reached the gunge tank, I opened the door and invited her to take a seat.
“Have a seat.” I said smiling, smiling sweetly. The Hinata-chan cosplayer paused, looked over her shoulder before slowly stepping into the tank, she slowly eased her bottom down upon the provided stool and looked up at the spout.
“Oh the tank is empty for now!” I said giggling as I closed the door and sealed it shut. “Now, Naruto,” I said to the bunny hopping toward the Naruto cosplayer. “Here how things are going to work, I'm going to issue a number of physical challenges. If you can complete them within the time limit. The Hinate-chan stays safe and clean.” I said with a nod. “But if you fail them, then I'm afraid she's going to get a bit messy!”
The crowd roared with approval and I swear I heard the girl cosplaying as Hinata muttered something along the lines of 'Oh God' under her breath as she folded her hands on her lap and straightened up. I'm sure right now she was wishing she decided to wear something beside a skimpy bunny-girl outfit to the convention. But then again a little eye candy never hurt anybody.
“Don't worry Hinate-Chan!” The Naruto cosplayer gave a big thumbs up. “You have nothing to worry about! I'm not going to let anything happen to you!” He said with a wink.
“Oh Naruto is doing a lot of boasting!” I said smiling. “He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk! Stay tuned to find out.” I said pointing toward the crowd with a wink. “Because we're about to find out in a few minutes, on the first airing of 'Cosplayer in Peril' , a parody of a Japanese game show that is sponsored by the Madison High School Anime Club.”
To be continued.
